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bstaats's review
3.0
Originally posted to Esther's Ever After
Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1) by Brian Rowe
Release Date: April 7, 2011
3/5 Stars
Goodreads Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!
High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.
All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...
After being unsure of what to expect from Happy Birthday to Me, but this is one of those books that proves to you that there are some gems of self-pub books out there. If you're looking for something a little bit outside of the box, and a well-written quick read then this is a good one to look into.
Reasons to Read:
I found Cam to be such an interesting character, and there were times when I really wasn't sure what to make of him. But he's definitely the kind that grows on you- and he's flawed, in a realistic kind of way which I appreciate.
Brian Rowe writes well, and the amount of consideration and effort put into this book is evident. If anything, the ending was a bit rushed and the story lacking some overall depth, but thankfully this is the first of a series which will hopefully assist in these areas with further books. I would have loved to have seen a bit more complexity in both the plot and some of the secondary characters, which fell a bit flat, such as Charisma and Wesley. Cam and his parents, on the other hand, were some that were just jumping off the page with their fascinating actions.
Review copy received from author in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation received.
Happy Birthday to Me (Birthday Trilogy #1) by Brian Rowe
Release Date: April 7, 2011
3/5 Stars
Goodreads Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!
High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.
All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...
After being unsure of what to expect from Happy Birthday to Me, but this is one of those books that proves to you that there are some gems of self-pub books out there. If you're looking for something a little bit outside of the box, and a well-written quick read then this is a good one to look into.
Reasons to Read:
- "Beauty and the Beast" minus the Beauty:
Cameron undergoes some serious growth and character development, which is totally endearing to watch unfold. And similar to the Beast, he needs to learn a very important lesson about himself and how he sees others. With a plot like that, it's completely reminiscent of Beauty & the Beast, even if there isn't any cute, book-loving girls in it (besides the ones actually reading Happy Birthday to Me). - A distinctive story:
If you've seen Benjamin Button, then it's the same idea but executed in a very different way. One thing I found particularly refreshing about this story was that it was told from the perspective of a completely ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances. But there really isn't anything that special about him... It's creative and stands out among a plethora of YA novels.
I found Cam to be such an interesting character, and there were times when I really wasn't sure what to make of him. But he's definitely the kind that grows on you- and he's flawed, in a realistic kind of way which I appreciate.
Brian Rowe writes well, and the amount of consideration and effort put into this book is evident. If anything, the ending was a bit rushed and the story lacking some overall depth, but thankfully this is the first of a series which will hopefully assist in these areas with further books. I would have loved to have seen a bit more complexity in both the plot and some of the secondary characters, which fell a bit flat, such as Charisma and Wesley. Cam and his parents, on the other hand, were some that were just jumping off the page with their fascinating actions.
Review copy received from author in exchange for my honest review; no other compensation received.
cafo6's review against another edition
4.0
I almost stopped reading this book but wanted to know what happened. Isn't that the best sign of a good story? Cameron began as a totally self-centered (perhaps normal) teen and I almost didn't finish this because he was SO narcissistic. But...the story. He redeems himself and the story ends on a satisfying note, and isn't that all we ask?
kailiasage's review against another edition
3.0
The two things that made me want to read this book was the cover and the summary. It looked good but I was still skeptical about it. Would I like it as much as others had? I wasn’t sure about anything when I dived into this book. I’m happy to report that I liked this book a lot.
Cameron was such a jerk in the beginning. The typical star athlete, he had the looks and the girlfriend and sure knew this. He was annoying, sometimes selfish, a jerk, and insensitive at times. As the story progresses, he changes into a guy who really and truly appreciates what he has. That, I think, was what made his so realistic. First, he acted just like a regular 17-year-old boy would (most of them anyways). Once reality hits him though, everything changes. Mostly his perspective of life and the people around him.
One iffy thing about this book was how insensitive the people around him were. His dad was one of the meanest jerks I’d ever read about, totally obsessed with money and his image. Some of the things that teachers did made me wonder if people were actually that mean.
The real romance was coming. I knew who the girl was going to be and I knew she’s the one who’d changed him. I liked seeing their relationship develop. Cameron noticed a girl who he normally wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for his condition. The girl proved that there were actually good people in this world. People who cared and who saw you for who you really were.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. The writing wasn’t the best in the world and some things bugged me a lot but the plot, honestly, made up for it. I liked reading this book from the POV of a teen boy, something that I don’t see often enough!
Cameron was such a jerk in the beginning. The typical star athlete, he had the looks and the girlfriend and sure knew this. He was annoying, sometimes selfish, a jerk, and insensitive at times. As the story progresses, he changes into a guy who really and truly appreciates what he has. That, I think, was what made his so realistic. First, he acted just like a regular 17-year-old boy would (most of them anyways). Once reality hits him though, everything changes. Mostly his perspective of life and the people around him.
One iffy thing about this book was how insensitive the people around him were. His dad was one of the meanest jerks I’d ever read about, totally obsessed with money and his image. Some of the things that teachers did made me wonder if people were actually that mean.
The real romance was coming. I knew who the girl was going to be and I knew she’s the one who’d changed him. I liked seeing their relationship develop. Cameron noticed a girl who he normally wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been for his condition. The girl proved that there were actually good people in this world. People who cared and who saw you for who you really were.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. The writing wasn’t the best in the world and some things bugged me a lot but the plot, honestly, made up for it. I liked reading this book from the POV of a teen boy, something that I don’t see often enough!
pegahe's review against another edition
4.0
*I received this book for review from the author. That in no way influenced my opinion of the book*
Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe was an unforgettable read. Cameron's aging day by day was one of the most terrifying things I've ever read of, and how he changed the way he lived his life was nothing but sweet. I am definitely going to be celebrating my youth much more.
Cameron is an epic jerk in the beginning. To a hilarious degree. He basically treats the world like he's the center of it. The way he pretends it's his birthday so that everyone at restaurants has to give him free cake and sing happy birthday made me think he has serious issues. Reading about this guy at the beginning made me hate him. But what he faced later on was so hard and I wouldn't wish it on my enemy. He grew up in the end and that was what counted to me. I even may have shed a tiny tear or two because of his maturity.
My favourite character in the book was Cameron's sister. She was so sweet and pure and just an amazing, unusual character. She loved her brother unconditionally and she ultimately made me like Cameron even more. Her character added depth to Cameron's character, and she was just really well thought out.
What I didn't expect was the humour. I laughed many times when reading Happy Birthday to Me. There were some scenes where I swear, I was thinking "Oh no, that COULDN'T have just happened." But it did. And it was memorable. I don't think I'll ever read a novel quite like Happy Birthday to Me again.
The one thing I wasn't too fond of was that the whole story didn't feel believable to me at times. Mostly the character's actions and reactions. During some heartfelt scenes I was suspicious for the character changing. I couldn't understand or relate to their choices. Some of the dialogue didn't feel real to me too but it didn't bother me enough to have an issue with the book. I would have enjoyed learning a bit more about the characters but that I expect will be resolved in future books.
Overall, I had fun on Happy Birthday to Me's ride. It was a sweet, cute novel and that's why I'm giving it 3.5 stars,
*** &1/2 *
Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe was an unforgettable read. Cameron's aging day by day was one of the most terrifying things I've ever read of, and how he changed the way he lived his life was nothing but sweet. I am definitely going to be celebrating my youth much more.
Cameron is an epic jerk in the beginning. To a hilarious degree. He basically treats the world like he's the center of it. The way he pretends it's his birthday so that everyone at restaurants has to give him free cake and sing happy birthday made me think he has serious issues. Reading about this guy at the beginning made me hate him. But what he faced later on was so hard and I wouldn't wish it on my enemy. He grew up in the end and that was what counted to me. I even may have shed a tiny tear or two because of his maturity.
My favourite character in the book was Cameron's sister. She was so sweet and pure and just an amazing, unusual character. She loved her brother unconditionally and she ultimately made me like Cameron even more. Her character added depth to Cameron's character, and she was just really well thought out.
What I didn't expect was the humour. I laughed many times when reading Happy Birthday to Me. There were some scenes where I swear, I was thinking "Oh no, that COULDN'T have just happened." But it did. And it was memorable. I don't think I'll ever read a novel quite like Happy Birthday to Me again.
The one thing I wasn't too fond of was that the whole story didn't feel believable to me at times. Mostly the character's actions and reactions. During some heartfelt scenes I was suspicious for the character changing. I couldn't understand or relate to their choices. Some of the dialogue didn't feel real to me too but it didn't bother me enough to have an issue with the book. I would have enjoyed learning a bit more about the characters but that I expect will be resolved in future books.
Overall, I had fun on Happy Birthday to Me's ride. It was a sweet, cute novel and that's why I'm giving it 3.5 stars,
*** &1/2 *
jknicker's review against another edition
3.0
Really give it 3.5 stars. Goodreads should make half stars available!!!
taylorzeb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really awesome story. I've had this book for a while and was excited to finally read it. The premise was really interesting and very well paced. i was somehwta surprised to find out that this was the first in a trilogy because I think it works well as a standalone book. However, i will definitely be reading the rest of the series. I really liked Cameron as a mian character. He is really likeable and easy to relate to througout the enitre book and i really love the character develoment that he goes through. This book had quite a few funny parts, while other parts were more serious. The balance really made for an awesome book. Although, I think its unnecessary I am glad that there is more to come. www.taysbookshelf.blogspot.com
shubba_the_emoreader's review against another edition
4.0
Original Post: http://lovefantasyscifinovels.blogspot.com/2011/04/happy-birthday-to-me-birthday-trilogy-1.html
Happy Birthday to Me was one of those books that truely suprised. I was asked to review this novel by the author and after I read the description nothing really did stand out and scream at me "read me" but it still sounded a pleasant read so I decided to review it. And I am really glad I read. I devoured this book in just over a day. I was addicted to it.
This book follows the unique story of Cameron. It starts with him in hospital an old mad at seventeen and its him telling us his story up to that point. Cameron was a popular seventeen year old basketball player. He has everything he wanted. Until one fateful day he wakes up and starts aging. He is growing older by a whole year everyday and no one knows why.
HBTM really was a suprise to me. I never really thought I would enjoy it as much as I did. I never thought Id feel for the characters as much as I did either. Before Cameron started aging I have to admit I didn't like him. However, I don't think you are meant to. He is self centred and an ass. Once he starts aging we see a totally different side of him, he goes on a personal journey to self discovery and you just can't help but like him in the end. He does a complete 180. He goes through so much through this story and it would be hard for anyone not to like him in the end.
The secondary characters are also very important to the story line. Wesley is Cameron's best friend even though they are in different social circles they still make time to spend time together. Wes was the character that had me in tears near the end (cant say much without spoiling it) what he does for Cameron was just beautiful. He really stuck by Cameron even when others didn't. Cameron's family got on my nerves a little. Mainly his dad. Who is a complete jerk throughout the story until near the end. There is one more character, Liesel. I really like her. We don't see alot of her in the story but she plays a big part especially near the end. I hope we see more of her in the next book.
Happy Birthday to Me, was the kinda of story that just flowed without a hitch. There wasn't much suspense as you already knew what was going to happen before it happen. But it was still an addictive read. Im not entirely sure where the author can take this story next. The ending was a fantastic ending that wrapped up the story nicely. However, I look forward to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Thank Brian for providing me with this copy for review. I look forward to the next installment and urge those who like paranormal stories to check this out. Its a nice quick read with a great plot and wonderfully written characters.
Happy Birthday to Me was one of those books that truely suprised. I was asked to review this novel by the author and after I read the description nothing really did stand out and scream at me "read me" but it still sounded a pleasant read so I decided to review it. And I am really glad I read. I devoured this book in just over a day. I was addicted to it.
This book follows the unique story of Cameron. It starts with him in hospital an old mad at seventeen and its him telling us his story up to that point. Cameron was a popular seventeen year old basketball player. He has everything he wanted. Until one fateful day he wakes up and starts aging. He is growing older by a whole year everyday and no one knows why.
HBTM really was a suprise to me. I never really thought I would enjoy it as much as I did. I never thought Id feel for the characters as much as I did either. Before Cameron started aging I have to admit I didn't like him. However, I don't think you are meant to. He is self centred and an ass. Once he starts aging we see a totally different side of him, he goes on a personal journey to self discovery and you just can't help but like him in the end. He does a complete 180. He goes through so much through this story and it would be hard for anyone not to like him in the end.
The secondary characters are also very important to the story line. Wesley is Cameron's best friend even though they are in different social circles they still make time to spend time together. Wes was the character that had me in tears near the end (cant say much without spoiling it) what he does for Cameron was just beautiful. He really stuck by Cameron even when others didn't. Cameron's family got on my nerves a little. Mainly his dad. Who is a complete jerk throughout the story until near the end. There is one more character, Liesel. I really like her. We don't see alot of her in the story but she plays a big part especially near the end. I hope we see more of her in the next book.
Happy Birthday to Me, was the kinda of story that just flowed without a hitch. There wasn't much suspense as you already knew what was going to happen before it happen. But it was still an addictive read. Im not entirely sure where the author can take this story next. The ending was a fantastic ending that wrapped up the story nicely. However, I look forward to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Thank Brian for providing me with this copy for review. I look forward to the next installment and urge those who like paranormal stories to check this out. Its a nice quick read with a great plot and wonderfully written characters.
ghostlyreader's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books! I loved it and it's one of the best books I've read this year.
mrisner's review against another edition
4.0
Picked up this Kindle freebie on a whim and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to getting the next two books in the series.
mimifrancis's review against another edition
2.0
Cameron Martin’s life couldn’t be anymore perfect. He’s popular, dating the hottest girl in school and he’s the star of his high school basketball team. Too bad it is going to end soon, much sooner than he ever thought possible. Inexplicably, Cameron is aging an entire year with each passing day and there doesn’t seem to be anything that can stop it. Cameron just wants everything to go back to the way it was; he wants to go to prom, graduation and help his team win the state championship. But there doesn’t seem to be anything anyone can do to help him, not even Reno’s best doctors. When a mysterious young lady captures Cameron’s heart, he finds himself having to trust the one person who may have caused his problem.
I really liked the idea behind this story—it had a great concept and I liked the originality of the plot. It was well organized and obviously well-thought out. Brian Rowe is a very talented writer, quite adept at creating a world and convincing you the events in that world are really happening. He definitely puts a great deal of time and effort into writing a worthwhile novel.
That being said, I did have some issues with this book. I felt like too much time passed before we as readers were given the reason behind Cameron’s mysterious aging illness. I was approximately 80% done with the book on my Kindle before there was any type of explanation given (though I had figured it out prior to this). Consequently, this made the ending feel quite rushed. It was as if Rowe knew he needed to wrap things up and he sped up the plotline to do just that. There was also a severe over-use of the word “shout” in all of its verb forms (shout, shouting, shouted). This in combination with capital letters EVERYTIME SOMEONE WAS UPSET made me feel like I was being screamed at through the whole book. I also took issue to the constant references to vomiting. Every time Cameron was upset about something disturbing he was experiencing in the aging process or other unpleasant experiences, he vomited or nearly vomited or thought about vomiting. And it was always vividly described. I felt nauseous from the constant references to being sick.
This book is labeled as young adult, but I would label it older young adult. I feel that it would best be read by high school students, perhaps sophomore year and up. There are far too many references to sex and male body parts to consider recommending it to younger teens.
I really liked the idea behind this story—it had a great concept and I liked the originality of the plot. It was well organized and obviously well-thought out. Brian Rowe is a very talented writer, quite adept at creating a world and convincing you the events in that world are really happening. He definitely puts a great deal of time and effort into writing a worthwhile novel.
That being said, I did have some issues with this book. I felt like too much time passed before we as readers were given the reason behind Cameron’s mysterious aging illness. I was approximately 80% done with the book on my Kindle before there was any type of explanation given (though I had figured it out prior to this). Consequently, this made the ending feel quite rushed. It was as if Rowe knew he needed to wrap things up and he sped up the plotline to do just that. There was also a severe over-use of the word “shout” in all of its verb forms (shout, shouting, shouted). This in combination with capital letters EVERYTIME SOMEONE WAS UPSET made me feel like I was being screamed at through the whole book. I also took issue to the constant references to vomiting. Every time Cameron was upset about something disturbing he was experiencing in the aging process or other unpleasant experiences, he vomited or nearly vomited or thought about vomiting. And it was always vividly described. I felt nauseous from the constant references to being sick.
This book is labeled as young adult, but I would label it older young adult. I feel that it would best be read by high school students, perhaps sophomore year and up. There are far too many references to sex and male body parts to consider recommending it to younger teens.